Photo: Jonathan Quick finally got the start against the Predators on Sunday night and played outstanding hockey for the win. ©2025 New York Rangers, NHL
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN—After a very tough loss on Friday night to the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2, the New York Rangers bounced back to get two points against the Nashville Predators on Sunday evening at the garden.
Game Notes
The Rangers opened up the scoring on Sunday night with Artemi Panarin’s 24th goal this season, when he took a rocket of a slapshot that beat Nashville goaltender Justus Annunen less than two minutes into the game.
The Rangers completely dominated the first period outshooting the Predators 15-6. Then in the second period, the blueshirts continued to pour it on the struggling Nashville team who is losing hope for this season.
Nearly a minute into the second period, JT Miller scored his 15th of the year on the power play from Panarin and Mika Zibanejad to make the score 2-0. And then K’Andre Miller added his 5th of the season with 3:25 expired on the clock to make it a 3-0 game.
By the end of two periods, the Rangers had outshot the Predators 28-15.
But then Nashville came out determined in the third. Within the first few minutes of the period, Jonathan Quick made several key saves. And by the end of the period, Nashville had taken a total of 19 shots on net in the period for a game total of 34 shots.
Luckily, Quick stood tall on several occasions to record his 63rd shutout victory of his illustrious career. In the third, rookie Brett Berard was able to score his 4th NHL goal at 16:57.
Game Analysis
If you only analyzed the first two periods of this game, you could chalk up a great bounce back win against a very struggling Predators team. But what the heck happened in the third period?
One of the key issues I want Rangers fans to be aware of is how the Rangers do not know how to maintain puck possession in the offensive zone. It’s as if this team forgot how to play solid hockey.
What they need to do is dump the puck in and start cyclying along the boards. Especially when they are up 3-0 in the third period. Why don’t they cycle the puck around for a few minutes?
The goal at that point in the game is to keep the puck as far away from your own end.
Who knows why the Rangers refuse to cycle?
What do you think?? Why don’t the Rangers try and keep the puck in the offensive zone more? Let me know what you think by clicking the comment button
Game Stats
Jonathan Quick saved all 34 shots taken and recorded his 63rd shutout victory of his career
Will Borgen had 1 shot, 4 blocks and 1 hit
K’Andre Miller had 1 goal, 2 shots
Artemi Panarin had 1 goal, 1 assist, and 7 shots,
Next Game
The Rangers are right back at it with a game at home against cross town rivals the New York Islanders. This is do or die time for the team from the island, as they are quickly falling out of playoff contention. Not to mention that the Islanders will want to enact revenge against the Rangers who beat them last week at UBS Arena.
The Rangers now have 64 points with three teams ahead of them in the standings. They are only two points behind the Detroit Red Wings with only 22 games left on the schedule.
Can the Rangers put a winning streak together? Or will the blueshirts trade wins and losses down the stretch and never make that final push?
Stay tuned…